"Danzo Advisor..."
Caught in hypnosis, Uchiha Hiroshi spoke with a dull expression. It seemed as though he was on the verge of revealing the Uchiha clan's involvement in Danzo Shimura's death.
But at that very moment—
Bang, bang, bang!
A sharp knock on the door echoed through the room.
The sudden noise startled Uchiha Shisui, breaking his concentration. He quickly lifted the hypnosis on Uchiha Hiroshi.
A hypnotized person would lose memory of the events just before and during hypnosis. Uchiha Hiroshi, unaware of what had transpired, blinked a few times, feeling an inexplicable dizziness and drowsiness.
His thoughts wandered briefly to the recent mission in the Land of Rice, during which he had endured harsh conditions and inadequate rest. Dismissing the sensation, he assumed it was merely fatigue.
Bang, bang, bang!
The knocking persisted, crisp and insistent.
"Who is it?" Uchiha Hiroshi called out, walking to the door.
When he opened it, he saw a man of similar age standing outside.
The visitor was Uchiha Kyosuke, a fellow clansman and shinobi of comparable rank. While Hiroshi and Kyosuke were familiar with each other, their relationship was superficial.
"Kyosuke?" Hiroshi asked, puzzled. "What brings you here at this hour?"
"The clan leader has summoned you," Kyosuke replied simply.
"What?" Hiroshi's eyes widened in surprise. The idea of being summoned by the clan leader both startled and excited him.
"I'll go right away!" he said eagerly.
Ever since their mission in the Land of Rice, Hiroshi had developed a deep admiration for Fugaku, whose strength and leadership left a profound impression.
"Hiroshi, since the clan leader wants to see you, I'll take my leave now," Shisui interjected, rising from his seat.
"I'm sorry, Shisui," Hiroshi said apologetically, feeling bad for cutting their conversation short.
"Don't worry about it," Shisui replied with a faint smile, bowing his head slightly before stepping out of the house.
Kyosuke watched Shisui's retreating figure, his expression unreadable. He held back the urge to reveal his thoughts, masking the intent in his gaze.
Unknown to Shisui, Kyosuke had not come on Fugaku's orders. Instead, he had been tasked with secretly monitoring Shisui.
Aware of Shisui's questionable allegiance, Fugaku had assigned several trusted clansmen, including Kyosuke, to keep an eye on him. Kyosuke's sudden appearance was no coincidence—he had acted to disrupt Shisui's probing.
"What's wrong?" Hiroshi asked, noticing Kyosuke's lingering gaze on Shisui's silhouette.
"It's nothing. Let's go," Kyosuke replied curtly, leading Hiroshi toward the clan leader's residence.
Although Fugaku hadn't actually summoned Hiroshi, Kyosuke deemed it necessary to report the incident and bring Hiroshi along as a witness. Meanwhile, other members of the surveillance team would continue monitoring Shisui's movements.
After leaving Hiroshi's residence, Shisui couldn't shake the sense of frustration building within him. He had come so close to uncovering the truth, only to be interrupted at the last moment.
What troubled him more was the coincidence of Kyosuke's sudden arrival.
"Something's off..." Shisui thought, his instincts as an experienced ANBU operative kicking in.
The timing was too perfect. Kyosuke's arrival felt calculated, as if he had deliberately intervened to stop Shisui's investigation.
"Was Kyosuke sent to monitor me?" Shisui wondered, cold dread creeping through him.
If his suspicions were correct, it meant someone in the clan no longer trusted him.
"Have they discovered my identity as a double agent?"
The thought sent a chill down his spine. If his allegiance to the Hokage had been exposed, the clan's distrust of him would be fully justified.
Glancing around subtly, Shisui began to take stock of his surroundings.
Through a series of vague, fleeting glances, he noticed something he hadn't paid attention to before—the subtle but unmistakable gazes following him.
These were not just curious glances from random clan members. They were too deliberate, too precise.
He had been under surveillance all along.
"Why didn't I notice it sooner?" he thought bitterly.
The realization hit him hard. He had been so focused on his mission and maintaining appearances that he had overlooked the possibility of being watched.
Shisui's expression remained neutral, concealing the turmoil in his mind. Years of ANBU training allowed him to maintain composure as he walked casually back to his residence.
Meanwhile, Kyosuke led Hiroshi to Fugaku's residence.
Upon arrival, Kyosuke instructed Hiroshi to wait outside before entering the clan leader's study.
"What happened?" Fugaku asked immediately.
Kyosuke hesitated only long enough to ensure the study's soundproof barrier was active before recounting the events.
"Shisui visited Hiroshi late at night," Kyosuke began. "Given the circumstances, I thought it was suspicious and intervened, using your name to remove Hiroshi from the situation."
"Hiroshi?" Fugaku's brows furrowed.
"Yes. Shisui was speaking with him, and based on what I saw, it seemed he was trying to gather information about the mission to the Land of Rice."
Fugaku's expression darkened.
"You did well to interrupt them," he said. "Shisui's inquiry is indeed suspicious."
He paused, his mind racing.
"But your intervention was too coincidental. If Shisui has realized he's under surveillance, it may complicate matters further."
Kyosuke's face turned pale. "Do you think Shisui knows we're watching him?"
"It's a possibility," Fugaku admitted. "However, your actions were necessary. If Shisui had managed to extract information from Hiroshi, the consequences could have been far worse."
Kyosuke lowered his head in guilt. "Please forgive me if my actions have jeopardized the clan's plans."
"There's no need for blame," Fugaku said, his tone measured. "You acted in the clan's best interests."
He sighed, glancing out the window.
"The important question now is whether Shisui's suspicions will lead him to act. If he's aware that his position is compromised, we must tread carefully."
Fugaku's mind churned with possibilities. He had always known Shisui was a potential threat, but the situation was escalating faster than he anticipated.
"Continue monitoring him," Fugaku instructed. "Report any unusual movements immediately. And inform the other surveillance teams to remain vigilant."
"Yes, Clan Leader."
As Kyosuke left the study, Fugaku leaned back in his chair, his gaze heavy with contemplation.
If Shisui's loyalty had truly shifted to the Hokage's faction, it would only be a matter of time before a confrontation became inevitable.
(End of Chapter)
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